Bruins' Neuheisel names Craft starting quarterback

LOS ANGELES -- Redshirt junior Kevin Craft will start at quarterback for UCLA in its season opener against No. 18 Tennessee.

"He's earned it with his consistent play and he has the best mastery of the offense at this point," first-year UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said after practice on Monday.

Craft was competing with redshirt freshman Chris Forcier for the job.

UCLA plays Tennessee on Sept. 1 at the Rose Bowl.

The Bruins lost Patrick Cowan, who was scheduled to be their starter, to a knee injury in spring practice that will sideline him for the season. Ben Olson moved back into the starting role, but he broke his foot at practice on Sept. 9 and is expected to miss at least eight weeks.

Craft transferred from Mt. San Antonio Junior College last spring.

In 2006, Craft played nine games, including five starts, as a redshirt freshman at San Diego State. He was 69-of-121 for 737 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions that season.

He left for Mt. SAC, and was 313-of-511 for 4,231 yards, 44 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season as the Mounties went 10-3 and won the Southern California Junior College championship.